Operating with the park brake on

[Eldubya]

Ok, admit it. We've all done it a time or two... get going only to realize you've left the P-brake engaged.
Yesterday, I put on my hearing protectors before starting it up (B7800) and couldn't hear the different pitch to the engine when moving. Did some very slow, light grading in 4X with the field-rake for about 1/2 an hour.


Brake still seems to function fine and holds the tractor on a hill.

Q: What damage, if any might I have done?

Any input is appreciated. And yes... I will be more careful in the future.

 

[kneedeep]

greatly reduced the life of the brakes

 

[Soundguy]

yup.. damaged ego, and used up some life out of the brakes.

depending on how much you actually use brakes. will depend on their ultimate life span.

I have 70 year old tractors with vintage brakes that are now getting worn.. and they used them to steer with.

all depends on how much material your manufacturer gave you..

PS.. now you know whyt , when you need to stop your tractor in a hurry.. that the first thing you do is NOT to stomp the brakes.. but to DUMP the THROTTLE THEN stomp the brakes. brakes on a tractor are to hold it in place when not running.. or to steer.. they don't do a good job of stopping it against engine power.

 

[TerryR]

PS.. now you know whyt , when you need to stop your tractor in a hurry.. that the first thing you do is NOT to stomp the brakes.. but to DUMP the THROTTLE THEN stomp the brakes. brakes on a tractor are to hold it in place when not running.. or to steer.. they don't do a good job of stopping it against engine power.

It never occurred to me this was an issue until I tried to get my wife to drive our tractor. She really hates to drive it, and says the reason is it makes her anxious that she can't stop it with just the brakes.

Terry

 

[Soundguy]

then don't tell her it will scoot right along with max brakes applied.

will scare her away.

I like the throttle dump and brake vs the clutch and brake depending on what I'm doing. for instance. I never like to clutch when going down a grade..e tc..

 

[Eldubya]

Sound advice from Soundguy. I very rarely use the brakes except when parked, or going down a grade which I do at an idle. The HST just stops the tractor pretty much when I let off the pedal.

 

[ETpilot]

I don't use my P brake too often. I too had a problem leaving it on while driving the tractor. I finally made a flashing warning light out of a pill bottle. It was to be a test. It works so good I never changed it out. That flashing light gets my attention.

 

[bananaman]

A little off subject, but the parking brakes on my new MX5100 Kubuta won't hold even on a slight incline. Is there an adjustment the dealer should make?

 

[k0ua]

A little off subject, but the parking brakes on my new MX5100 Kubuta won't hold even on a slight incline. Is there an adjustment the dealer should make?

you can adjust them yourself, the procedure is in your owners manual.. basicely turn a threaded rod and lock nut, and remove some of the free play.. they show you how you how to do it in the book.

 

[jenkinsph]

I did this last week for about a half hour, not happy about it but it happens. And that was with the red parking light working on the dash.

 

[DT86]

It happens, or so I've been told.

 

[Leejohn]

I put a buzzer on my L4240, it can be a pain in the butt sometimes. With it I haven't drove with the brakes on. I wish I had went with the flashing light like the other poster did. Think I well try the flashing light on the B7800 and see how that goes. Did you just use a turning lights flasher?

 

[Cherokee140]

When I put the brake on I but it on HARD.....not just enough to hold the machine in place. I can't tell you how many times I start to drive off with the brake on....but if you push that sucker down with all your might the machine is likely not going to move, or you will notice something is wrong.

 

[Paul Thornton]

After a few time trying to go with the brakes on I added two blue LEDs, they help.

L2800 w/FEL - 72" Land Pride rake

 

[ETpilot]

I put a buzzer on my L4240, it can be a pain in the butt sometimes. With it I haven't drove with the brakes on. I wish I had went with the flashing light like the other poster did. Think I well try the flashing light on the B7800 and see how that goes. Did you just use a turning lights flasher?

My Ford 4610 did not have any indicator for P brake. It has a pull and rotate lever used to set brake. Once lever is rotated you step on brake pedal to set the brake. I added a micro switch to the pull lever, placed an automotive light bulb in the pill bottle. Then wired the circuit using a 552 flasher. I have to say it works pretty good.

There is a very old thread in Customization IIRC with a couple of pictures. Pill bottle warning light, I think was the name.

 

[Leejohn]

I'm going to do it. Thanks for the info and flasher number.

 

[Leejohn]

I don't use my P brake too often. I too had a problem leaving it on while driving the tractor. I finally made a flashing warning light out of a pill bottle. It was to be a test. It works so good I never changed it out. That flashing light gets my attention.

Well I did it today and I even used the pill bottle. Lot better then a buzzer. I did screw up a little, I don't know what I was thinking of. I didn't hook into the key switch system and now it well flash with the engine shut off. Not sure if I well change tomorrow or wait awhile.

 

[sixdogs]

I used to read these "left the brake on" threads and of course I never left mine on :ashamed: but have learned the correct answer is to almost never put your brake on. That is unless the situation is so dangerous that the circumstances will cause you to alert you to remove the brake as soon as you get back on the tractor. Tractor brakes aren't like car brakes and they can fail or not be set correctly. Better idea is not to trust them from the get-go.

Most guys use the brake when they want to get off the tractor and leave it running when the tractor should really be shut off. The only time I use my brake is when I use the backhoe and I set it so hard that it won't move unless removed. This way, I haven't left the brake on it several years.

The fact you left the brake on is no big deal. Every one of us here has done it multiple times. Almost certain no damage

 

[TerryR]

My 18-year-old JD has a big flashing red light when the brake is on. Isn't this common?

Terry

 

[pacerron]

My Ford 4610 did not have any indicator for P brake. It has a pull and rotate lever used to set brake. Once lever is rotated you step on brake pedal to set the brake. I added a micro switch to the pull lever, placed an automotive light bulb in the pill bottle. Then wired the circuit using a 552 flasher. I have to say it works pretty good.

There is a very old thread in Customization IIRC with a couple of pictures. Pill bottle warning light, I think was the name.

I have a Ford 3910 with the same PB system. Only use it if back hoeing, or getting off the tractor on a hill. I prefer to put the FEL bucket down and leave it in gear especially in the winter when it might set for a month or more. I'm not sure if it could seize up, being in oil, but not taking any chances.
The newer tractor is a brain teaser... It has a flashing dash light when on but I've still popped the clutch a few times with it on and the engine running. The teaser part is.... if you shut down the engine without the PB lever engaged a loud alarm goes off. Luckily after about 15 seconds it stops chirping so it can be parked in gear with it off. Then to start the engine the PB must be engaged. Turning the key to start w/o doing so gives a dead starting position on the key switch.
Ok, so you pull up the PB lever and engage the key to the start position again. No joy:confused3:
You have to turn the key back to the off position again before going to start.
This one has it's own dedicated hydraulic brake system with a special fluid/oil required at $16 a pint.
I'm not complaining about either tractor set up. I just have to remember which one I'm on since they are 20+ years apart
in technology.
My point is, it doesn't matter much how many idiot lights and buzzers there are as an old foggy like me will still screw up once in a while